Statins are highly effective in lowering cholesterol and reducing heart disease risk. But statin side effects like liver damage and memory issues can also occur. A doctor can help you weigh the pros and cons.

Statins are a class of drugs that lower the levels of artery-clogging LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in the bloodstream. Reducing LDL decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, especially in people who have other risk factors.

Your doctor may recommend a statin if you have high cholesterol that you have not been able to manage with diet, exercise, or weight loss. A doctor may also prescribe a statin if you have had a heart attack or other condition caused by blockages in your arteries.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cholesterol-lowering drugs are one of the most frequently prescribed drug classes in the United States. About 92 million U.S. adults take statins, almost triple the number who took them a decade earlier.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty steroid. It comes from the food you eat and is also produced in your body, mainly in your liver.

Cholesterol travels via your bloodstream, where LDL cholesterol can form plaques. Plaques are thick, hard deposits that cling to the walls of arteries and restrict blood flow. When pieces of plaque break off, they can cause blood clots, strokes, and other serious health conditions.

Statins work by inhibiting an enzyme your liver needs to produce LDL cholesterol. Statins also minimally increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol, which is responsible for moving bad cholesterol from your arteries back to the liver.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins for people that fall into one of four categories:

  • people with a history of cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries
  • people with high levels of LDL (greater than 190 mg/dL)
  • people between the ages of 40 and 75 who have diabetes
  • people between the ages of 40 and 75 who have elevated LDL levels (70 to 189 mg/dL) and a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to atherosclerosis over the next 10 years

Like any medication, taking statins can lead to side effects. The exact side effects you may experience can vary from statin to statin.

Generally speaking, the side effects people experience from statins may improve with time or by switching to another statin.

Let’s explore some of the more notable side effects of statins.

Statin effects on muscles

Muscle-related symptoms can commonly occur due to statin use. This typically presents as muscle pain and sometimes muscle weakness.

These effects tend to be dose-dependent. That means they increase as your dose of statins increases. Because of this, they usually go away when statin dosage is lowered.

You may be at a higher risk for statin-related muscle symptoms at specific times, such as when:

  • starting on statins for the first time
  • increasing the dose of your statins
  • taking another drug that interacts with your statins

Rhabdomyolysis is a serious condition in which muscle cells become damaged. However, this effect is very rare, occurring at an estimated rate of less than 0.1%.

Rhabdomyolysis is more likely to occur in people who are taking statins with other medications that carry a similar risk. Experts estimate that 50% of cases of rhabdomyolysis related to statins are due to drug interactions.

Statin effects on liver function

Statins may increase liver enzymes that help digestion. This side effect is typically temporary, does not cause symptoms, and often resolves on its own.

Sometimes, liver damage can occur. However, this is rare, occurring in about 19 out of every 100,000 cases, according to a 2022 review.

While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) used to recommend occasional testing of liver enzymes in people taking statins, this is no longer the case.

The FDA made this change based on the fact that serious liver injury is rare, and testing for elevated liver enzymes cannot effectively treat or prevent liver damage from happening. Instead, they recommend testing liver enzyme levels before a person starts taking statins.

Statin effects on blood sugar

Taking statins can also increase blood sugar levels and your risk of developing diabetes.

A 2019 study found that statin use increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 38%. However, a 2023 research review notes that people who develop diabetes while using statins often have other preexisting risk factors for diabetes.

A 2021 study also linked statins with diabetes progression in people who already have diabetes. This included a higher risk of starting insulin treatment, having significant hyperglycemia, and experiencing complications due to high blood sugar.

Neurological side effects of statins

Some people have concerns about statins affecting their ability to think, particularly their memory. In fact, the FDA requires that drug labels for statins contain information about cognitive side effects like memory loss and confusion.

However, a 2018 scientific statement from the AHA notes that there’s no clear evidence that statins cause cognitive impairment.

Other things to keep in mind

You should not take statins if you are pregnant, nursing, or have active liver disease. You should also avoid taking certain other medications with statins. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting statin therapy.

While taking statins, do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can interfere with enzymes that metabolize statins. You can end up with too much of the medication circulating in your bloodstream, which increases your risk for severe side effects associated with statins.

In a 2018 scientific statement, the AHA asserts that, for people for whom statin treatment is recommended, the benefits of statins “greatly outweigh” the risks. The AHA made this statement after reviewing data from many clinical trials, reviews of studies, and observational studies.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force also agrees that the benefits of statins outweigh the risks for all recommended groups.

Are statins good or bad for you? Ultimately, it depends on your risk factors and your health status.

Talk with a doctor about your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. They can let you know if statins are recommended for your individual situation.

What is the most common side effect of statins?

The types of side effects that you may experience can depend on the type of statin you’re taking. According to the National Health Service (NHS), some of the common side effects of statins can include:

  • muscle pain
  • fatigue or weakness
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • digestive symptoms, like nausea, diarrhea, or constipation

According to a 2019 review of research, muscle pain is one of the leading reasons that people stop taking statins.

Is taking statins worth the risk?

Generally speaking, the benefits of statins outweigh the risks in people with high cholesterol or heart disease, both of which put you at risk of serious cardiovascular events, like heart attack or stroke.

A doctor can give you a better idea of whether statins are right for you.

Can you just stop taking statins?

Stopping statins can be harmful. When you stop taking statins, your cholesterol levels can return to high levels. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that stopping statins on your own increases your risk of a repeat cardiovascular event or death.

If you’re experiencing unpleasant side effects due to statins, it’s important to talk with your doctor about them. They may be able to switch you to a different statin, which can potentially help reduce your side effects.